Downing Street defended sending the Airbus A321neo on a 35-minute domestic trip from London Stansted Airport to pick up the prime minister in Manchester. Flight data indicated the aircraft remained on the tarmac for 90 minutes before departing for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Government representatives explained the route aligned with official duties, pointing out the leader had worked in Scotland and Manchester prior to the journey. Conservative shadow cabinet minister Neil O'Brien challenged the detour, accusing the administration of wasting jet fuel and public funds.
Key points
Downing Street defended the domestic journey by citing necessary security, cost, and oper…: Downing Street defended the domestic journey by citing necessary security, cost, and operational requirements for the trip.
Transparency records do not reveal the exact price of the domestic leg because Cabinet Of…: Transparency records do not reveal the exact price of the domestic leg because Cabinet Office data tracks only overseas journeys quarterly.
The prime minister's travel arrangements accommodated an official schedule that involved…: The prime minister's travel arrangements accommodated an official schedule that involved working in Scotland and Manchester ahead of the flight.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Downing Street has defended sending the official UK government plane to Manchester to pick up Andy Burnham, rather than the prime minister travelling to London in advance of the flight.
The Airbus A321neo departed London Stansted Airport for Saint John's, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, at about 06:00 on Monday without the prime minister on board.
Half an hour later it landed in Manchester to collect Burnham, before taking off again to cross the Atlantic for the Commonwealth heads of government summit (Chogm).
The trip sparked a backlash on social media with some questioning the value for money, but Number 10 said security, cost and "operational requirements" were all factored in.
The official UK government plane, carrying the registration G-GBNI, is often used by British prime ministers and royals for overseas trips.
Flight tracking data shows the jet made a 35 minute flight on Monday morning to Manchester, where it spent an hour and a half on the tarmac, before taking off at 08:00 to head to St John's.
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